My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children

cake is

her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut

some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what should we

of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss

sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

her

blow out the

indicate to Julian that

candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice piped

she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with

hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the cake out to the

to say thank you!” their

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly

of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days.

thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry about anything else. As for

might as well pretend it never existed for now.

bringing up the child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s

she turned and headed toward the

her apartment and about to close the

was propped

his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it. Suddenly, she

on business?

into the house and shut the

been getting along fine

she took two steps back.

he stalked toward her as he pulled off

he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want

her, forcing her back inch

had no idea what she

caught hold of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged